Alexander-Arnold, Palmer Return as Tuchel Names England Squad for Nations League

Trent Alexander-Arnold and Cole Palmer have both been recalled to the England squad after being left out of Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup plans.

Alexander-Arnold, who joined Real Madrid after leaving Liverpool, returns to the national team for the first time since June 2025, while Palmer has also been brought back after missing the World Cup squad that reached the semi-finals before losing to Argentina.

Tuchel named a 27-man squad on Friday for England’s three-week, four-game Nations League camp, just nine weeks after the team returned from the World Cup.

Teenage winger Rio Ngumoha retained his place after impressing during his England debut against New Zealand in June. Alex Scott, who is yet to earn a senior cap, was also selected after being part of the pre-tournament training group in Florida.

Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite received his first England call-up under Tuchel. The 24-year-old has one previous international appearance, which came in June 2024. Lewis Hall, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Dominic Calvert-Lewin have also returned to the squad.

However, Tuchel left out several players who featured in England’s World Cup campaign. Phil Foden, Morgan Gibbs-White and Adam Wharton were among those not recalled, while Ollie Watkins, Ivan Toney and Noni Madueke were also dropped.

The squad includes regulars such as captain Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and Jordan Pickford, alongside a number of younger players competing for increased international opportunities.

England’s latest selection signals the start of another phase under Tuchel, with the manager continuing to assess his options following the World Cup and ahead of the next stage of international competition.

England squad

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Jason Steele, James Trafford

Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jarrad Branthwaite, Trevoh Chalobah, Marc Guehi, Lewis Hall, Ezri Konsa, Tino Livramento, Nico O’Reilly, Jarell Quansah

Midfielders: Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Kobbie Mainoo, Cole Palmer, Declan Rice, Alex Scott

Forwards: Harry Kane, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Eberechi Eze, Anthony Gordon, Rio Ngumoha, Marcus Rashford, Morgan Rogers, Bukayo Saka